The Survival of the Eastern EmpireThe Survival of the Eastern Empire

Section 1

Standard 7.1.3

Describe the establishment by Constantine of the new capital in Constantinople and the development of the Byzantine Empire, with an emphasis on the consequences of the development of two distinct European civilizations, Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic, and their two distinct views on church-state relations.

Background Knowledge

As Western Europe succumbed to the Germanic invasions, imperial power shifted to the Byzantine Empire (the eastern part of the Roman Empire). Roman government, law and culture lasted for another thousand years.

Power Shifts to the East

The Rise of Constantine

Fought several rival for control of the empirePagan – someone who believes in more than one godIn 324 he becomes the sole ruler of empire and coverts to ChristianityMoves the capital to Byzantium, the site of an old Greek city

The New Capital

ConstantinopleLocated near the Bosporus, and between southeast Europe and AsiaCrossroad for trade

The New Capital

Trade with India, Russia, China and Egypt made Constantinople wealthyWealth was invested in making the city as magnificent as Rome

The New Capital

Moat – trench filled with water– Protected the city

from attacks by land• Easier to defend than

Rome

Justinian and Theodora

The first great Byzantine emperor and his wife Empress Theodora (527 – 565)

Justinian’s Conquests

Dreamed of resorting Rome’s lost empireByzantine reached its greatest sizeGradually lost land her gained

Justinian’s Conquests

The empire was at its height In 565, during Justinian’s reign. It included most of the lands surrounding the Mediterranean Sea.

Justinian’s Legacy

Justinian’s CodeFoundation for legal systemCrushed an urban revolt in 532 gaining absolute power

Justinian’s Legacy

Justinian was an ambitious builder. His greatest monument was the magnificent domed church of Hagia Sophia (Holy Wisdom), which was constructed in just five years (532 37).